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Idris Elba's 'Star Trek Beyond' Character Krall Revealed, Justin Lin Gives Us The Details

The Star Trek Beyond teaser trailer leaked online on Monday right before I was set to have lunch with director Justin Lin . The new Trek filmmaker confirmed that Idris Elba 's character is indeed in the teaser trailer, even though most of you probably didn't notice him. In the film Elba plays the new villain, a character that Lin says is named Krall. Find out more details about the Idris Elba Star Trek character after the jump.

Who Is Krall?

Idris Elba's Star Trek character is name Krall , which almost sounds Klingon in origin– but the character is not a Klingon.

When [Idris] came in, he had a lot of [prospective] projects and when I talked to him about this character, it wasn't about this or that it was about building or having a philosophy or point of view. And I like his character because his character is really challenging the way of the Federation's philosophy and there are a lot of things that when I was growing up I wanted to see.

In the trailer, Elba's character Krall is seen and heard saying the line:

This is where it begins, Captain. This is where the frontier pushes back!

His slight reptilian look and dialogue calls back to the premise of the original series Arena episode, which has led some longtime Trek fans to believe he is playing a Gorn. Even the name Krall is registered in the Star Trek databank as "a Gorn assassin who later befriended Nox the Romulan commander of the USS Admonitor, and later became one of the founders of the Klingon Alliance."

But Lin dismisses any previous canon, insisting that Krall is of a "new species that we discover in this chapter."

The Federation and Krall's Motivations

Back to the character's motivations, Lin says that "he's a character that has a very distinct philosophy that's very different." He gives us a bit more insight into what might be at play:

I think it's great to be a fan and I watch utopian San Francisco and go, oh wow, when you're building this movie you think, they don't have money, how do they live? How do they compete? And those are things that his character, in a way, has a very distinct and valid point of view.

Later in our discussion, he revealed more of the inspiration of the film's plot, which gives us some clues about Krall:

It was just really embracing the idea that the Federation, what would happen if you were going on a five-year journey and you're trying to also not only explore, but also maybe introduce other people to this way of thinking. What would that mean? What are the consequences to that? I mean, spreading a philosophy that you believe in that you think is great, are there gonna be any other points of views that's gonna counter you? And I think that those are the things that I thought of as a kid. And also then as an adult when I watch Star Trek. And I think we got to kind of explore that a little bit.

Hit the jump to learn more about Idris Elba's Star Trek character, including how the attack on the Enterprise mirrors our modern world, how much time it took to apply the Krall makeup, and more.

The Attack on the USS Enterprise

As for the attack that brings down the USS Enterprise, Lin reveals that it isn't a typical huge ship vs. big ship encounter and instead about what we're dealing with today, small cells in great numbers:

I grew up and Star Trek has a very 1960s sensibility of who has the bigger ship usually wins, right? And if you look at it, the attack, these ships are 40 feet long. And but there's like 4,000 of them. And so I think even in the way they're being encountered and how people are coming is it's you can't help but, I mean, we live in a world that is ever evolving. And I think that that's always made Star Trek sci-fi great is when you're able to at least acknowledge what's happening today.

When asked if he was referring to attacks like the recent Paris attacks, Lin takes a step back and painted a more broad picture:

Well I'm just saying anything that comes, even in the way we are as a country and how people engage in conflict. That's something that I felt like in this Star Trek, you see that it's different. I feel like when I do think about Star Trek, a lot of times it is about the size, it has a very different sensibility. But at the same time, I think it's also, that's also part of moving it and taking risks and saying there's a lot of different ways people engage in the universe.

Four Hours in Makeup

As for Idris himself, the filmmaker praised the actor:

I've worked with some really great people and Idris immerses himself and I really enjoyed working with him because he's all about the character and what's best about the character's journey in the film. The only thing that sucked is it took four hours every time we needed to get him on set.

And judging from the brief appearance of Krall in the teaser trailer, that four hours in the makeup chair every morning was well worth it.

Star Trek Beyond Director Talks Trailer, Plot, Title & New Villain

Director Justin Lin sheds light on the villain Krall played by Idris Elba, the new trailer and the title of Star Trek Beyond.

Yesterday, fans got their first official look at the highly-anticipated Star Trek Beyond when the trailer debuted. The action-packed footage gave us a sneak peek at the nefarious villain, played by Idris Elba , along with the rest of our favorite crew members from the U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk ( Chris Pine ), Spock ( Zachary Quinto ), Scotty ( Simon Pegg ), Bones ( Karl Urban ), Uhura ( Zoe Saldana ) and Chekov ( Anton Yelchin ). Shortly after the trailer debuted, director Justin Lin held a roundtable interview with several press outlets, including /Film , where he offered some new insight into the footage, adding that there were other versions that didn't make the cut which were longer. He hopes the footage represents the risks they're taking with this sequel.

"Well, its a minute and a half, you know... And again, there were other versions that were much more traditional and I can see where maybe the hardcore fans could probably see that as, 'Oh.' But with trailers you're putting a two-hour movie into a minute and a half, and the one thing I wanted to make sure is that it hopefully represents that we are trying to be bold and take risks, whether we are successful or not, I don't know. That was something I was excited to do and with collaborators like Simon (Pegg) and Doug (Jung) , passion for the franchise will be there regardless. So however it's presented, yeah it's a minute and a half, and my challenge to everyone making the trailer is about saying let's not go off course, I'm not afraid to share - share it, I feel like we have the goods in a two-hour run and you really do get to know the characters and hopefully the journey is great. I love it and the cast did an amazing job and the crew... and the inside baseball version of the creation of this Trek was pretty condensed in how you usually make a movie of this size. And I wanted us to be bold, I wanted us to take chances and hopefully in a minute and a half we are able to convey that."

This adventure takes place during the U.S.S. Enterprise's five-year journey to explore new life and civilizations, but the trailer shows that they are in quite a bit of trouble, with a damaged ship and Kirk stranded on an unknown planet. The trailer also gives us our first glimpse at the villain, who the director revealed is named Krall, played by Idris Elba . The director explained that this character is not a Klingon, but one of the new species the Enterprise crew discovers. Here's what the filmmaker had to say about this new enemy to the Federation.

"When [Idris] came in, he had a lot of [prospective] projects and when I talked to him about this character, it wasn't about this or that it was about building or having a philosophy or point of view. And I like his character because his character is really challenging the way of the Federation's philosophy and there are a lot of things that when I was growing up I wanted to see. It was just really embracing the idea that the Federation, what would happen if you were going on a five-year journey and you're trying to also not only explore, but also maybe introduce other people to this way of thinking. What would that mean? What are the consequences to that? I mean, spreading a philosophy that you believe in that you think is great, are there gonna be any other points of views that's gonna counter you? And I think that those are the things that I thought of as a kid. And also then as an adult when I watch Star Trek . And I think we got to kind of explore that a little bit."

The footage opens with the U.S.S. Enterprise under attack by unknown forces, as Kirk escapes to an unknown planet by himself. While there is still very little we know about Krall and his alien forces, he does say in the trailer that "this is where the frontier pushes back." Justin Lin hinted that Krall's alien forces are quite large, and that this story explores themes from the original Star Trek TV series.

"I grew up and Star Trek has a very 1960s sensibility of who has the bigger ship usually wins, right? And if you look at it, the attack, these ships are 40 feet long. And but there's like 4,000 of them. And so I think even in the way they're being encountered and how people are coming is it's you can't help but, I mean, we live in a world that is ever evolving. And I think that that's always made Star Trek sci-fi great is when you're able to at least acknowledge what's happening today."

Justin Lin took the directorial reigns over from J.J. Abrams , who remained on board as a producer while he was directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens . Justin Lin revealed that Simon Pegg came up with the actual title Star Trek Beyond , which was inspired by the director's conversations with J.J. Abrams . Here's what the filmmaker had to say about the title's origins.

"He kind of tracked me down and we're talking and I didn't know what to expect. I thought maybe he was offering to go shoot a script that existed and he said, no, it's yours. Go and be bold. And just take it. Be bold and make it what you think you would do to Star Trek. And the more we talked about it, the more we kept saying, well let's keep pushing. Let's keep pushing. And that's when Simon kind of said, well it should be Star Trek Beyond. And it was his idea. And it was kind of came from all our conversations. And we looked at each other and like oh, that sounds like the title of this film."

Many fans noticed that, right away, the trailer featured a callback to J.J. Abrams ' first Star Trek film in 2009, with the use of the Beastie Boys song Sabotage. The song was featured in an early scene from the reboot, where young Kirk ( Jimmy Bennett ) steals his stepfather's car, while blasting this hit song. Here's what Justin Lin had to say about bringing this track back for Star Trek Beyond .

"It's in the DNA of this canon. It was in the '09 Trek, and we went through different iterations of the teaser and I wanted to make sure whatever here is using all the elements from the film. It's been a part of this Kirk's journey and so I felt it was very organic, and it will ultimately be in the finished film."

Other new cast members coming aboard for Star Trek Beyond include Sofia Boutella , Lydia Wilson and Joe Taslim . Justin Lin is directing from a script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung . Paramount has already set a July 22, 2016 release date for this sequel, which will also coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the original Star Trek TV series. What do you think about these new details?

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Star Trek Beyond review – a watchable adventure still heavy on the bromance

Zachary Quinto’s Spock remains the real star of the latest instalment, even if Idris Elba’s Krall could have been given more to do

H ere is the latest of the rebooted Star Trek franchise with Justin Lin (of the Fast And Furious movies) taking over direction – and the first in which Britain’s own Simon Pegg assumes co-scripting responsibilities, with TV writer Doug Jung. Pegg injects plenty of fun and wit and certainly doesn’t hesitate to give his own acting role, chief engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, a touch more dramatic significance than might otherwise have been the case. However, he naturally also adheres to the tradition of responding to Captain Kirk’s requests for emergency improvised measures with frantic sentences beginning “I cannae...!” and “We cannae....!” – before naturally delivering the goods.

This movie is, poignantly, the final outing for the late Anton Yelchin in the role of Russian officer Chekov, a part which he made his own with boyish eagerness. It’s also notable for including a unambiguous gay relationship: for Sulu, played by John Cho, who is revealed to have a male partner, a civilian from outside Star Fleet, and crucially they also have a child. George Takei, the actor who originally played the role, caused some consternation when he announced he would rather an entirely new gay role was created. Perhaps Takei was uncomfortable with the idea that “his” Sulu has therefore been somehow timidly in the closet all this time. Sulu’s gay identity here is not much emphasised, but unlike the coy and evasive hints in the recent Independence Day movie, the statement is clear enough.

The real star, as ever, is Zachary Quinto’s imperturbable First Officer Spock, who conveys logical calm, droll humour, and a kind of martyred romanticism. He rules the movie with a single raised eyebrow. Without Spock, this might be a bit ordinary.

Star Trek Beyond doesn’t go that far beyond what we might expect: a very decent, watchable franchise episode which is marooned for quite a long time on a distant rocky planet. There is a potent new force for evil in the form of anti-Star Fleet insurgent Krall, played by Idris Elba, although his full personality and motivation take a fair bit of time to flower.

We find ourselves three years in to the Enterprise’s legendary five-year mission, and officers Kirk and Spock are approaching a kind of quarterlife crisis, both in terms of career and their relationship with each other – and it is not entirely facetious to say that their top-level bromance is still far more important, in this heteronormative world, than any actual gay couple. Kirk is brooding about his personal and professional destiny in the vast reaches of space and Spock also has issues: his relationship with Uhuru (Zoe Saldana) is in deep trouble and he receives a sombre communication concerning the great elder, Ambassador Spock. (The grave features of Leonard Nimoy are glimpsed.)

But a phoney and duplicitous distress call plunges the crew into peril, connected with a powerful, Maguffin-y weapon, the Abroneth, yearned for by Krall. Kirk finds himself confronted with the terrible choice of having to abandon ship, and the crew are marooned in alien territory: a happy reminder of the visual language of the 60s Roddenberry TV show. Here, they encounter a fiercely independent kickboxing survivor called Jaylah (reportedly Pegg was inspired by Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone – hence J-Law or Jaylah). It’s a strong performance from Sofia Boutella: her character Is not a million miles away from Daisy Ridley in The Force Awakens, but a bit tougher.

The dilithium crystals powering the new Star Trek film are in pretty good shape: it motors along and Chris Pine shows himself again to be a very good actor with easy charm and authority. The bantering relationship between Karl Urban (as Dr “Bones” McCoy) and Quinto is, as ever, very enjoyable. At one stage, McCoy dismisses something Spock says as “horseshit”. Quinto demonstrates great comic timing in the pause he deploys before his dignified reply: “I fail to see how excrement of any kind plays a part.” Maybe this is the real bromance, actually.

This new movie could arguably have given Elba more to do, earlier in the picture, but it is the inter-relationship of the Enterprise’s crew which is the real source of drama. An entertaining adventure.

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Star Trek Beyond: Idris Elba is 'predatory' villain Krall

He's not a Gorn.

Darren is a TV Critic. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenFranich for opinions and recommendations.

Alongside his critically acclaimed roles in Beasts of No Nation , Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom , and Luther , Idris Elba has spent the last few summers dropping charisma bombs in summer-blockbuster fare like Thor , Prometheus , and Pacific Rim . Now, in a busy year that includes voice roles in Finding Dory and The Jungle Book , Elba will take on the Starship Enterprise as the Big Bad in Star Trek Beyond . We talked to Elba about his character and the joys of claustrophobic prosthetics.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Your character has been shrouded in mystery. Please tell me everything about him.

I play Krall. This is a man with a definite purpose. I say a man, but he’s not a man. Or is he?

Everyone wants to know: Is he a Gorn?

Is he a new species in the Star Trek universe?

Yes. What’s interesting about him is that he has a real beef with what the Enterprise stands for. Krall’s a character who’s deeply steeped in hatred — in my opinion, a well-earned hatred — for the Federation. It felt quite political. There’s a relatability to what’s happening in our world. Not everybody’s happy with what everybody calls the good guys.

There’s that line in the trailer , “This is where the Frontier pushes back.” It feels like a refutation of the whole foundation for the Federation.

There’s some history that we explore, to understand why he feels the frontier needs to push back. There’s definitely an opposing argument to the good that the Federation think they do. There are purists that believe in independence, and believe that we’re all made differently for a reason, and will fight tooth and nail to defend that. There’s massive relatability to modern world politics in that sense.

Some Star Trek bad guys are physical threats, and then there are villains like Khan who give all kinds of great megalomaniacal speeches. Does Krall fall into one of those traditions?

Krall is predatory. He’s not one for big speeches. He is one for going to get what he wants. If that means having to do it himself, outside of his army, he is not afraid to do that.

What it like working under all that makeup?

Typically, my day would start at 4:15 in the morning. I’d be in the chair until around 7:30, shoot about 8:30. Shot ’til around 9 at night, maybe later. Get home, unwind, get to sleep, and then wake up in the morning and do the whole thing again. It was definitely an extensive process. I learned so much about working with prosthetics, and how that can influence the performance. I’m claustrophobic by the way; I don’t like rubber masks on my face.

Did you have a favorite Star Trek character growing up?

Honestly, my favorite character from the TV show was Clark Kent. Clark Kent? [ laughs ] Sorry, different show! Captain Kirk was my favorite. Kirk was just smooth, man! There was nothing fazing him. It was part of the DNA of the show that, in times of ridiculous peril, Mr. Kirk was the coolest actor on the set.

What is Krall’s relationship like with Kirk in Beyond ?

Working with Chris [Pine] was a good old laugh. He’s a funny boy, and a wicked professional. But in terms of Krall and Kirk… can we say, Jaws and Dory?

You’re attached to a few different franchises now, between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the upcoming Dark Tower adaptation . Is there a possibility that you will return for another round of Star Trek ?

I can’t imagine at this point what else could happen for this character. I think, after this film, you don’t want me to return.

Star Trek Beyond opens July 22.

To read more of our Summer Movie Preview, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands now, or buy your choice of four collectible covers here – and subscribe now for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.

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Idris Elba Reveals Star Trek Beyond Details

We’re almost exactly a year away from Star Trek Beyond , the third installment in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, and we don’t really know much about the movie. This time around, Idris Elba plays the new big bad, and the actor just revealed a sprinkling of new details, mostly involving one iconic character he’ll share the screen with.

Talking to TV3 , the 42-year-old actor comes across as super excited to be a part of the Star Trek family, and is especially pumped about some upcoming scenes in particular. He said:

Spock was probably my favourite character - and in this one I have some scenes with Zachary Quinto [who plays Spock].

Obviously, this doesn’t tell us all that much about Elba’s character . Okay, it doesn’t actually tell us anything about that, but it will be cool to see Elba and Quinto go head to head on screen. That’s worth getting excited about. The Thor star is known for the intensity he brings to his roles, while Quinto’s take on Spock has a wry edge, and this combination should prove to be a lot of fun to watch.

Since the very beginning, the prevalent rumor has been that the Klingons will be the main villains in Star Trek Beyond . This is something that pleased many devotees of the franchise, as the fan favorite race hasn’t shown up in any meaningful way in the rebooted universe. Basically, we’ve been waiting for that to happen.

Early drafts of the script that people claimed to have read definitely included the Klingons in a significant antagonistic capacity, at least according to internet scuttlebutt—make of that what you will. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Idris Elba plays a Klingon. The scripts people saw were early versions, when Roberto Orci was still on board as both writer and director. He has since parted ways with Paramount over the direction of the Star Trek franchise—he remains a producer, but has little creative input. Star Simon Pegg took over the scripting duties with Doug Jung, and he has publicly said that Elba is not a Klingon.

Granted, we still remember the " Benedict Cumberbatch is not Khan" debacle from Star Trek Into Darkness , so we have to take everything with a grain of salt. Still, Pegg and Jung only turned in their draft right before filming began, and Pegg said they made drastic changes to the already extant script, cutting huge chunks, adding even more, and reshaping the whole thing. At this point there’s no telling what the story entails.

Whatever the true nature of his character, Idris Elba, as a long time fan, is plenty stoked to be aboard. He said:

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Almost everyone was a Trekkie, really, weren't they? I wouldn't say I was a hardcore one, but I definitely watched that show a million times.

Now directed by Fast & Furious ’ Justin Lin , Star Trek Beyond is currently filming in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and as far as we know, the story still picks up with the crew of the Enterprise in the midst of their legendary five-year mission to explore new worlds. This is something else that fans have been waiting for.

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 8, 2016, just in time to celebrate the franchise’s 50th anniversary ( The Original Series premiered in September 1966).

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Idris Elba , OBE ( born 6 September 1972 ; age 51) is an actor who played Krall in Star Trek Beyond .

For Bad Robot Productions ' "To Boldly Go" charity fundraising campaign, Elba nominated Heaven Homes as one of the charities to benefit from the money donated by fans. [1] He joined the cast in the announcement video, in which he break-danced. [2] According to Elba, his role needed two hours of prosthetics. [3] [4]

He is best known for his roles in the television series The Wire (co-starring Sonja Sohn , John Doman , Robert Wisdom , and Reg E. Cathey ) and Luther , as well as portraying Nelson Mandela in the biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom .

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Elba played the Asgardian gatekeeper Heimdall in the Thor and Avengers films, which had him working with Kenneth Branagh , Chris Hemsworth , Alice Krige , Benedict Cumberbatch , and his Star Trek Beyond co-stars Karl Urban and Zoë Saldana .

One of Elba's earliest film roles was Tyler Perry 's Daddy's Little Girls (2007) followed that same year portraying drug trafficker Turner Lucas in the Ridley Scott directed biopic American Gangster , co-starring Kathleen Garrett and Clarence Williams III . In 2008, he appeared in RocknRolla , which also included Tom Hardy . In 2010, he was part of the cast of The Losers with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Zoë Saldana . In 2012, Elba was featured in Prometheus , co-written by Damon Lindelof . In 2013, he played Stacker Pentecost in Pacific Rim , which also featured Clifton Collins, Jr. , Ron Perlman , and Brad William Henke .

In addition to Star Trek Beyond , Elba could be heard providing voiceover in three 2016 Disney films: Zootopia (with music by Michael Giacchino ), The Jungle Book , and Finding Dory . More recently, he appeared in the 2017 biopic Molly's Game (with Claire Rankin ), the Stephen King adaptation The Dark Tower from the same year (written by Akiva Goldsman ), and the 2019 musical Cats .

In 2016, Elba received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations in the categories Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Beasts of No Nation , Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Beasts of No Nation , and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Luther . [5]

Among Elba's non- Trek achievements was being named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2018. Chris Hemsworth and Dwayne The Rock Johnson were awarded the honor respectively in 2014 and 2016. Elba and Johnson are also co-starred in the 2019 The Fast & the Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw .

External links [ ]

• Driis.com – official site
• Idris Elba at X (formerly Twitter)
• Idris Elba at StarTrek.com
• Idris Elba at the Internet Movie Database
• Idris Elba at Wikipedia
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Published Nov 15, 2015

Idris Elba Is Everywhere

Star Trek Beyond co-star Idris Elba has been a very, very busy man. The actor-musician opened for Madonna the other night when her Rebel Heart tour touched down in Berlin, Germany, and he's currently co-starring in the acclaimed Netflix movie Beasts of No Nation . He'll return to his signature role as London detective John Luther in a Luther , a three-hour telemovie set to debut December 17 on BBC America.

And there's more. He'll be heard in the animated features Finding Dory, Zootopia and The Jungle Book . Also wrapped are Bastille Day , a thriller set in Paris, and A Hundred Streets , a drama about intersecting lives that also stars Gemma Arterton, Samantha Barks and Ken Stott. Elba also co-prodcued A Hundred Streets and, wearing his producer hat, is aiming to transform Marc Olden's Poe Must Die into a film trilogy.

All of the feature films (with the exception of Poe Must Die) are expected to be released throughout 2016. Keep an eye on StarTrek.com for trailers and additional details.

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10 star trek actors who also appear in alien movies.

Several actors have made the jump from exploring the stars in Star Trek to hunting Xenomorphs in the Alien franchise.

• Star Trek and Alien share iconic actors, showcasing their talents in both classic sci-fi franchises.
• Brad Dourif impressed in Star Trek: Voyager and channeled creepiness reminiscent of his Alien character.
• Idris Elba transitioned from Prometheus captain to Star Trek Beyond's villain, showing versatility in both franchises.

10 actors have explored the final frontier in Star Trek and faced deadly Xenomorphs in the Alien franchise. Ridley Scott's Alien premiered in 1979 and remains one of the most influential science fiction horror films of all time. Following Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and the doomed crew of the Nostromo, Alien spawned numerous sequels, prequels, and crossovers, including projects that are still in the works as of 2024. From the facehugger to the chestburster to the adult Xenomorph, the team behind Alien also created some of the most iconic visuals in cinema.

Star Trek has its own fair share of iconic aliens, though not even the Borg, inspired by H.R. Giger's Alien designs, are quite as viscerally horrifying as those in Alien . Beginning when Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966, Star Trek became an even more expansive franchise than Alien , with a dozen TV series and 13 Star Trek movies . From the 1970s until today, every decade has seen new Star Trek and Alien projects, so it makes sense that several actors have appeared in both franchises.

Star Trek's Borg Owe A Big Debt To Alien

10 brad dourif, star trek: voyager / alien: resurrection, star trek: voyager.

Brad Dourif only appeared in three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager as Ensign Lon Suder , but his character made quite an impression. A Betazoid member of the Maquis, Suder suffered from violent tendencies he tried to control, but he had no outlet for them as a crewmember of Voyager. In Voyager season 2, episode 16, "Meld," Suder murdered Crewman Frank Darwin and was confined to his quarters on the ship.

Brad Dourif made Suder complex and suitably creepy.

When the Kazon attacked and took over Voyager in the Star Terk: Voyager two-parter , "Basics," Suder helped retake the ship. Brad Dourif made Suder complex and suitably creepy, perhaps channeling some of the psychopathic traits of Dourif's Alien: Resurrection character, Dr. Jonathan Gediman. Gediman was part of the science team that cloned Ellen Ripley, and he became a bit too obsessed with the Xenomorphs.

9 Leland Orser

Star trek: deep space nine, star trek: voyager, star trek enterprise / alien: resurrection, star trek: deep space nine, star trek: enterprise.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 10, "Sanctuary," Orser played a Skrreean farmer named Gai, who was bonded to the Skrreean representative Haneek (Deborah May). In a later episode of DS9 , season 3, episode 21, "The Die is Cast," Orser appeared as a Changeling masquerading as Romulan Tal Shiar agent Colonel Lovok. Orser's next Trek appearance came in Star Trek: Voyager season 4, episode 5, "Revulsion," where he portrayed Dejaren, a hologram who developed a hatred for organic lifeforms.

In his final Star Trek appearance, Orser played Loomis in a Star Trek time travel episode — Star Trek: Enterprise season 3, episode 11, "Carpenter Street." Loomis was a human blood bank worker who had been recruited by the Xindi in 2004 as part of their plan to destroy humanity. Leland Orser appeared in Alien: Resurrection as Larry Purvis, a civilian who became an unwilling host to a Xenomorph egg.

Leland Orser has become most known for playing unstable or even psychotic individuals, including the sadistic serial killer in 1999's The Bone Collector .

8 Ron Perlman

Star trek: nemesis / alien: resurrection.

Before achieving mainstream fame portraying Hellboy in Guillermo del Toro's two Hellboy movies , Ron Perlman appeared in Alien Resurrection as the crass mercenary, Ron Johner. Premiering in 1997, Alien: Resurrection was one of the first big Hollywood films Perlman starred in. His Star Trek appearance came not long after, in 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis , where he was physically unrecognizable as the Reman Viceroy.

Although the Viceroy is never named in Star Trek: Nemesis , he serves as the second-in-command of the Reman forces and becomes one of Praetor Shinzon's (Tom Hardy) most trusted advisors. The Viceroy used his telepathic abilities to help Shinzon violate the mind of Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) , although this contact allowed Troi to trace the Viceroy's mind later. The Viceroy is eventually killed in a one-on-one fight with Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

7 Raymond Cruz

Star trek: deep space nine / alien: resurrection.

Long before Raymond Cruz appeared as Tuco Salamanca in Breaking Bad , he played human soldier, Vargas, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7, episode 8, "The Siege of AR-558." Vargas was one of the soldiers assigned to protect the communication array on the planet known as AR-558. Vargas survived the five-month assault until Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) arrived with reinforcements, but he was killed during the Jem'Hadar's final attempt to take the array.

Cruz almost made it to the end of Alien: Resurrection, but became the last causality of the Xenomorph .

In Alien: Resurrection , Cruz portrayed Private First Class Vincent "Vinnie" Distephano, a dedicated soldier initially on the side of Dr. Mason Wren (J. E. Freeman). Wren was part of the scientific team that cloned Ellen Ripley as part of their plan to recreate the Xenomorph species. After Wren tried to betray the other survivors, Distephano switched sides. Cruz almost made it to the end of Alien: Resurrection, but became the last causality of the Xenomorph .

Best Star Trek: DS9 Episode From Each Of The Show’s 7 Seasons

6 jenette goldstein, star trek generations / aliens.

Jenette Goldstein is best known for her role in Aliens as Private Jenette Vasquez, a cocky marine who is part of the team sent to investigate Hadley's Hope colony. Like her fellow marines, Vasquez questions Ripley's experience with the Xenomorph on the Nostromo and believes their mission will be an easy one. Vasquez helps keep Ripley and the young survivor, Newt (Carrie Henn), alive, although she later sacrifices herself to avoid being taken by the aliens.

Jenette Goldstein only had a small role in Star Trek Generations , as a science officer on board the USS Enterprise-B in the opening sequence of the film. Although Goldstein has only had minor roles in the Star Trek franchise , her Aliens character, Vasquez, partially inspired the character of Lt. Tasha Ya r (Denise Crosby) on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Jenette Goldstein also voiced the USS Enterprise computer in two episodes of Star Trek: Short Treks.

5 Daniel Kash

Star trek: discovery / aliens, star trek: discovery.

Daniel Kash joined the Star Trek family in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 10, "Terra Firma, Part 2," with a brief appearance as Duggan, an ally of Captain Gabriel Lorca in an alternate timeline of the Mirror Universe. Kash's more memorable Star Trek appearance came in Discovery season 4, episode 8, "All In," in which he plays Haz Mazaro , the owner of the Karma Casino Barge.

Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) had dealings with Mazaro and reached out to him when they were looking for black market isolynium. In Aliens , Kash portrayed Private Daniel Spunkmeyer, a member of the Marine Combat unit sent to investigate Hadley's Hope colony. Spunkmeyer served as a copilot on the dropship Bug Stomper before he was killed when a Xenomorph stowed away on board.

4 Chelah Horsdal

Star trek: discovery / alien vs. predator: requiem.

Upon arriving in the 32nd century in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Michael Burnham and her crew begin working to aid and rebuild the United Federation of Planets. In the premiere episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Chelah Horsdal's Laira Rillak is elected as the new Federation President . At odds at first, Captain Burnham and President Rillak become close allies, as they fight to save the Federation from the Dark Matter Anomaly in Star Trek: Discovery season 4.

As a Human, Bajoran, and Cardassian hybrid, President Rillak comes from three different species that have historically been on opposing sides. Laira presents a brighter, more unified future, and her time as a top Federation ambassador prepared her well for the job of the presidency. In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem , Chelah Horsdal played Darcy Benson, whose husband and son were killed by Xenomorph chestbursters while on a hunting trip.

3 Mark Rolston

Star trek: the next generation, star trek: enterprise / aliens, star trek: the next generation.

Character actor Mark Rolston portrayed Private Mark Drake in Aliens, one of the Marines sent to check on the Hadley's Hope colony. In his first Star Trek role, Rolston played Lt. Walter Pierce in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, episode 18, "Eye of the Beholder." Pierce had killed his girlfriend and her lover out of jealousy while working on the USS Enterprise-D, and Counselor Troi felt empathic traces of the murder eight years later.

In Star Trek: Enterprise season 2, episode 17, "Canamar," Rolston plays Enolian criminal Kuroda Lor-ehn. After escaping prison, Kuroda had been recaptured when he met Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), who had been wrongly imprisoned. Archer eventually earned Kuroda's trust, which helped the Captain get back to the Enterprise. Mark Rolston also appeared briefly in Enterprise season 4, episode 6, "The Augments," as the Klingon Captain Magh.

Mark Rolston provided the voice for Portal 63 in the video game, Star Trek: Resurgence .

Every Star Trek Series, Ranked Worst To Best

2 winona ryder, star trek (2009) / alien: resurrection, star trek (2009).

Winona Ryder played Amanda Grayson, the human mother of Spock (Zachary Quinto), in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009) . In the alternate Kelvin timeline, Amanda was killed when Nero (Eric Bana) destroyed Vulcan. In Alien: Resurrection , Ryder starred as Annalee Call alongside Sigourney Weaver's Ripley 8. Call kept her true identity as an Auton secret synthetics had been outlawed after a failed uprising.

Call was originally meant to kill Ripley 8 before the Xenomorph inside her could be harvested, but she arrived too late. Despite being a machine, Call felt sympathy for mankind , which led her to sabotage the Xenomorph breeding program. One of the few characters to make it out of an Alien movie alive, Call apparently achieved her goal, destroying the Xenomorphs and making it to Earth in one piece.

1 Idris Elba

Star trek beyond / prometheus, star trek beyond.

As revealed in Star Trek: Beyond , Idris Elba's Krall had formerly been a Federation soldier and Starfleet officer by the name of Captain Balthazar M. Edison. When Edison's ship, the USS Franklin, crash-landed on a distant planet, he found alien technology that allowed him to siphon energy from others to prolong his own life. Edison grew to hate the Federation, and he became so mutated that he no longer appeared human, and he became Krall.

Krall's search for a powerful alien weapon eventually brought him into conflict with Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), who succeeded in killing him.

Before taking on the role of the villainous Krall in Star Trek Beyond , Idris Elba portrayed Jalek, the Captain of the scientific vessel Prometheus in 2012's Alien prequel, Prometheus . Jalek eventually sacrificed himself and his ship to prevent the mysterious Engineers from destroying humanity. Whether they are exploring strange new worlds in Star Trek or trying not to get eaten by a Xenomorph in Alien , several actors have left their mark on two of science fiction's biggest franchises.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek (2009), & Star Trek Beyond are all streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek Generations is streaming on Max.

• April 11, 2024 | Paramount Pictures Officially Confirms Star Trek Origin Movie For Its Upcoming Film Slate
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• April 10, 2024 | ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Preview Offers Intriguing Clues And The Return To [SPOILERS]
• April 10, 2024 | Mary Wiseman Really Doesn’t Want To Talk About Tilly Returning On ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’
• April 9, 2024 | Sonequa Martin-Green Talks About Exhausting Last Day On Set For ‘Star Trek: Discovery’

Sonequa Martin-Green Talks About Exhausting Last Day On Set For ‘Star Trek: Discovery’

| April 9, 2024 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 43 comments so far

In early 2023, and months after production finished on season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery, the cast and crew were notified it would be their last season. Paramount then gave them a chance to return to the set to film a “coda” to turn the season finale into a series finale. In the brand new issue of Star Trek: Explorer magazine, series star Sonequa Martin-Green talks about what it was like during the last day on set shooting that coda.

Season 5 was a “difficult story to tell” for Martin-Green

Speaking to Star Trek: Explorer , Martin-Green talked about how the fifth season posed new challenges for her:

“They wanted this to be like an Indiana Jones -type adventure. Though what we’re dealing with is big, intense, serious, and impactful, we also try our best to have fun throughout it. There is a sense of leaping forward in season five. I wish I could say more, because it was a difficult story to tell for me, if I’m being brutally honest. There are these little keys I was able to latch onto. Even though what we’re dealing with is so big, the fact that there is that sense of fun and adventure is helpful. People will be glad that element and tone are there because it’s a departure from season four, which courageously was meant to mirror what the world was going through during the pandemic.”

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery (Michael Gibson/Paramount+)

The actress also revealed what it was like when they returned to the set to film the additional footage to wrap up the series:

“How can I describe that last day? It was momentous. We wrapped in November of 2022, and went back in April of 2023 to do additional shooting. When we were up there (in Toronto) doing this, it was a mad dash because we had a limited amount of time. We were gunning it, and it was great because we went big and then we went home. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I don’t know how else to say it, but we just pounded the pavement. We went for it. We gave our all in those last days of shooting, in those last hours. We had given everything that we had. We were so exhausted that we were delirious and disoriented, but also giddy and sad – all of us at the same time – and so we cried together. There was a lot of crying together. We spoke blessings over each other, we read letters and poems, and we hugged. It’s crazy because you assume that you will see some of the people again.”

Martin-Green also confirmed that final take was a “Michael scene.”

Star Trek Explorer #11 out today

Star Trek Explorer #11 arrived on Today, April 9 in the USA and Canada (and arrives on May 9 in the UK and Ireland). In addition to Sonequa Martin-Green, the new issue also has an exclusive interview with  Star Trek: Prodigy co-creators Dan and Kevin Hageman. There are also 2 exclusive Star Trek: Picard short fiction stories: “Confirmation Bias” about a “difficult encounter” with Captain Shaw and Seven by Michael Dismuke,  and “Dignified Transfer” by David Mack about “a sad mission for Captain Picard.”

Here are the newsstand and exclusive covers…

You can find the issue on newsstands and comic book stores. You can also subscribe and buy issues directly from Titan .

Keep up with news for the  Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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Being from the GTA, I hope Martin-Green and the rest of the cast enjoyed their time in Toronto. It is too bad so much of the shooting took place during the pandemic, but I hope the cast and crew had some chance to enjoy the city.

It has been a really tough road for Discovery, mainly because of some poor writing, but I hope the Discovery crew are proud of the work they produced and a legacy of spawning SNW, Picard, S31, Shorty Treks, LDs and Prodigy. IMHO, the show had to slog through some abominable (but well intentioned) first few episodes. As Kurtzman recently admitted, Star Trek must always take into account the feelings of the legacy fans and Fuller seemed to forget that before he was turfed.

After trying to redeem itself and Burnham with an improved last half of S1 and a pretty decent S2, the show completely reinvented itself with S3. SNW and Picard were greenlit and that allowed Discovery to really target an expanded new and progressive audience, but IMHO the writers let the actors down with some really bad substandard stories. Some of the episodes were great like Adira’s and Georgiou’s backstories and they brought in some great talent like Tig Notaro, but sadly IMHO the rest of S3 and S4 were disappointedly underwhelming and quite honestly a little painful to watch.

As for S5, so far so good, cautiously optimistic and hope Discovery can go out on a high note.

Per usual I pretty much agreed with everything you said DeanH. I know everyone had their hearts in the right place when making this show but yeah it’s been a very rough four seasons to say the least.

But I give the show a lot of credit for really taking chances I don’t think any other show has done since DS9 frankly. The results were very mixed overall however but I still think jumping to the far future was one of the boldest things it did and FINALLY took Trek im a very different direction many of us wanted since Voyager ended.

Even though I really do blame the reception of the last two seasons on the showrunner and writers I also think Discovery has had some of the most Trek-y concepts we haven’t seen in a long time as well including this season.

And yes I have enjoyed the first two episodes overall and I’m really hoping the rest of the season stay at this level. I truly want this show to go out with a bang the way Picard did IMO.

I don’t know if I will ever truly like this show but I know others do and that’s all that matters. We have plenty of Trek these days and enough to last a lifetime to pick and choose our personal tastes.

And this show will take its place with all the others for a lifetime as well.

With respect, I think taking the show 900 years into the future was the opposite of bold. It not only abandoned the premise of being a prequel, but it made no sense how a crew and ship from nearly a thousand years ago could have any relevance or impact in the modern day. The premise is flimsy and it’s hard to sustain interest when the the logic portion of my brain is constantly saying, “wait but…..”.

I prefer going forward over another prequel any day of the week so I’m very biased in that regard.

But yes I think it’s very bold to go beyond everything we’ve ever known and has to imagine something we never seen before and basically reset the universe versus just filling in stuff we already know and still doing a poor job with it at that.

But that’s my opinion only. And I think SMW has filled in that spot much better even if still doing some whacky things with canon.

And yes they could do a better job with the 32nd century and my issue with it as well.

You know me and I always want to move forward and not back. And I get that was the premise here and as i mention above I get why they did it. But as I also mention this decision will have an opposite effect on the over all franchise. Now every Trek show that comes out that is not the Academy will have to be a prequel to DISCO.

To be honest I just don’t really see it that way because Discovery is so far in the future it really has no effect on anything until you get into the 31st century.

Remember when people were theorizing that the first season of Picard was going to somehow set up the Burn in Discovery? I argued there was no way that was going to happen because the writers aren’t crazy enough to now set 800 years of potential stories in stone because everything after that would have to be part of that storyline, even if it’s just in the background.

That would make every show on feel like an actual prequel. I think that word is thrown around too flagrantly. Of course I understand why but Discovery has really no ties to anything until the 31st century.

One thing I was a bit surprised about is that they let the Burn last so long (over a century) because it obviously has a longer effect on the universe. I thought it would be a few decades at best but I guess they really wanted to show the galaxy in dire trouble I guess.

But yes it is a thin line and they obviously know this. That’s why they are so vague with everything post Picard. They don’t want to put future stories in a corner by throwing out ideas like Klingon empire was wiped out in the 27th century and so on.

So unless something fundamentalist changes I don’t see it that way. Discovery is basically treated like it’s own period and that no show is building up to it in any way because it’s all so far away. And we already know the Burn isn’t some complex Federation downfall that took eons of buildup to happen, just a crying Kelpian kid.

But this is just how I see it.

No worries we all see it in our own OPs till TPTB come out with something LOL.

I get that Discovery is SO FAR in the future. And also I would argue the same argument I made to you also applies to Daniel’s in Enterprise because he showed us a future that was so far advanced that other shows did not to adhere. So I totally get what you mean!

But in a way, that’s ,my point sorta. Daniel’s, even though he was so far in the future, set precedent as to what the future should be. And Discovery, a show that came IRL followed it. And rather than just saying, “ok, this is what is established…” they obliterated it.

Fair enough. And you’re right the show did basically retcon things we saw with Daniel’s in the 31st century. I still would love to see him again actually but I stopped holding my breath on that years ago lol.

I tend to agree. Their hearts seemed to be in the right place, but they ended up doubling down on the problem. As you say, the ship should have had zero relevance other than nostalgia in the 32nd so they created the burn and destroyed everything (literally) to make them relevant. And in so doing they threw our 24th century canon such as non-Warp FTL and Enterprise era Daniel’s tech from the future to do it. Add to this that now every single show that comes after this will be a prequel to DISCO which means there are certain rules that will always have to be in place like Earth and Vulcan will always be ok, humanity will survive, etc.. .

Now I should make this very clear, while I was happy to hear that the show was going into the future, but it’s not something I was ever pushing for either. I firmly accepted the show being in the 23rd century and had no problems if it stayed there.

And season 2 is actually still my favorite season. So I was more than fine it stayed there but I still believe it was probably better it jumped to the future for no other reason the canon stuff would’ve just been more of a mess. They didn’t want to give up the spore drive, the super magical tech everyone assumed they were going to get rid of after the first season. Five seasons later and it’s still there lol. But at least it’s in an era it makes sense to belong in.

And they probably just wanted to do their own thing. It was Fuller who wanted it there. Once he was gone it was obvious they didn’t seem that committed to his ideas and wanted to change course.

Yeah, I know some might not like to jump to the 32nd century, but I too thought that was something worth trying and was a bold move – especially after the show was often hammered, sometimes unwarrantedly, for breaking cannon.

Btw, one thing I forgot to credit Fuller and the original showrunners for – bringing Michelle Yeoh to the Star Trek universe. I know many dislike her mirror character, but for me, I think it is great to see she is continuing to be part of franchise with the upcoming S31 movie.

Yeah I agree with all of this too. I think going to a completely new era is what a lot of fans really wanted. Not necessarily the 32nd century obviously but beyond the the 24th century at least.

But I understand if people think they haven’t done a better job with it which I have complained about as well and why I wasn’t that happy with the last two seasons.

And yeah hiring Yeoh was a great decision, one I was super happy with. But no I don’t love MU Georgiou much but again that goes back to the writing. They had her for two full seasons and did nothing with her except being a great fighter and making jokes all the time, but nothing in terms of real development.

Once again, you have to put it on the writers and why she is still so divisive. Hopefully the Section 31 movie will change that.

Bringing her in was always a great idea, even before the Oscar win. She has always had A list Hollywood cred and gave some cred in return to the new era of Trek. I dare say she is this generation’s Whoopi Goldberg, even if I am not a fan of the Gergeau character.

The other thing you have to remember about Disco was that the creator, Bryan Fuller, left the show while working on the pilot, which was finished without his input by Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg. After giving us a VERY underwhelming S1 that featured such hits as mirror Lorca, Space Hitler, Klingon sexual abuse, Culber’s “kill your gays” murder, and more, Harberts and Berg were then fired for being horribly abusive towards their staff.

From that point Kurtzman ran the show himself for a year as he tried to dig out of the hole the previous incompetent bosses had dug, and then finally passed the show to Michelle Paradise, who has at least tried to break new ground and keep the show true to the values of Trek. Disco walks the walk of Trek’s IDIC values more than any other show, and that’s in large part due to Paradise’s hand.

All this to say that ANY show that has to go through 4 showrunners in this way is going to be, at best, EXTREMELY uneven and unsure of its voice. It’s the same reason Picard was all over the place for 3 seasons – 3 different people in charge means 3 different tones, themes they want to explore, etc. That Disco has managed to right itself and stay afloat and try new things and stay true to its breakneck speed, cinematic tone, and boundary-pushing values while going through some really awful behind the scenes changes that would have tanked any other show speaks volumes. We should all be proud of this show finding its footing.

Correction. Picard was all over the place for two seasons, not three. Then, it found it’s footing. Discovery, in my view, has yet to find its footing. I don’t understand why they’re framing the progenitor tech as this incredible thing that people need to get their hands on. It’s not. The IMPACT of what what the progenitors did, over millions of years, was significant. But to make gene sequencing sound like this magic mcguffin, again, hurts the logic part of my brain.

Picard season three was better, but it was still a narrative mess, with a lackluster, one-dimensional villain that didn’t make much logical sense.

And then it got even worse at the end because of *borg*. What a waste of Amanda Plummer.

I have to admit I am a lot more harsh on PIC S3 now than I was when it aired cause the nostalgia effect has worn off.

Very much agreed about the waste of a talent like Amanda Plummer. Her Dad holds a sweet spot in Trek lore as Chang – Christopher chewed up the scenery like no other in TUC and clearly had a blast doing it, IMO. Amanda, not so much, though it looked like she gave the material she was given her all. Another star’s talent (ex. Idris Elba) squandered by the franchise.

I’m still riding a nice buzz from PIC S3 personally, big fan of that season. It felt right despite its hiccups.

I loved the season when I saw it but TBH the nostalgia is wearing off for me.

Picard S3 is going to age horribly because once the nostalgia wears off, people will finally, FINALLY, start to realise that there’s very little else there.

I guess that is why TOS is aging “horribly” because the nostalgia for a 60s show has worn off. *rolling my eyes*

The difference is that TOS had substance. It’s what started Star Trek. It created the universe. The stories it told were original.

Picard S3, strip away all the references to better Trek and you’re left with very little of substance.

“Brain and brain. What is brain?” Come on. Substance? It was 60s sci-fi. Don’t get me wrong, TOS is my favourite as I did grow up on just that. But it wasn’t substance and it quite often tripped over itself.

Yeah I have to agree with this as well. As much as I love season 3 they really dropped the ball with Valdic. I loved that she was a shape shifter but I still wanted to know how she became involved with the Borg, etc.

Great comment about Paradise embracing IDIQ more than any other show. I totally concur and yes, I did miss the Type A male on the command and bridge crew for S3 and S4, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the representation of women and gender minorities on Discovery. (had to say this because some jumped all over that comment on another thread)

IDIQ is one of the founding principles of Star Trek that TOS introduced, but it was limited due to a number of reasons, including the way network execs viewed women and minorities (both racial and gender) back in the 1960s. You saw a big change with TNG with women actually being “allowed” to command a starship (unlike the way it was in TOS’ Turnabout Intruder) and stories like The Outcast and The Host which focused on androgyny and gender minority relations respectively. As Crusher says at the end of The Host, (and I paraphrase) – perhaps our ability to love will not be so limited in the future. Paradise continues to embrace IDIQ in S5 with Saru and Vulcan T’Rina.

Paradise goes too far. It’s as simple as that. It’s *so* obvious, *so* in your face, *so* forced, that it just becomes eye-rolling and cringeworthy.

Yeah and I understand what you are saying. That said, adding Raynor to the bridge crew does add some appropriate representation. Besides that with Picard and SNW along with LDs plus the upcoming S31, there is plenty of Trek for legacy fans like myself. I am perfectly happy with Discovery and Prodigy being made specifically for additional new fans. Of course, I will still watch, even if it I am not in the target audience of both of those shows.

The trouble with Raynor, is that they of course made him gruff, arrogant, condescending with a lot to learn. The typical go-to for white men on this show. Burnham will show him how to do things and teach him how to behave by the season’s end I’m sure.

You haven’t watched much TOS, have you?

Discovery doesn’t just “walk the walk” of Trek’s IDIC, but rather, hits people over the head with it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

I live near the Greater Traffic Area, as well. I hope they all grew to enjoy Toronto. Pinewood is close to where my brother lives. He’d see DSC crew riding their bikes, etc.

Unfortunately, no cast…

I ran into Ethan Peck and a SNW production crew member at a grocery store (she had a Star Trek SNW crew jacket on). I did not want to bother them, so I just quickly said hello and good luck with the new show. They smiled and said thank you.

I’ve met Ethan several times. (Not in Toronto) A great guy!

It’s still so bittersweet for me that this show is ending. Discovery made me fall in love with Star Trek again. I feel like the end of this show is the end of an era, and I’m just trying to enjoy this one last ride we have with this crew.

Well maybe a lot of them will guest star on Academy?

I still have a soft spot for Season 1 trying out a new approach, even if everything from ships to uniforms was off-canon and it “wasn’t star trek” because it wasn’t uplifting (which I generally concur with but that can still enjoy a darker, meaner variation!). Lorca made a great change in captain even if it was because of moustache-twirl universe.

I always felt the leap to the 32nd century could have been even more ‘fish out of water’ – could have been even more bizarre differences they had to navigate, like language, customs, food etc. Imagine someone from 1000AD coming to now and encountering how we dress, speak, what we eat, etc.

I will be intrigued to see if the ending dovetails with the short trek of Discovery left abandoned with Zora watching old movies by herself…

That episode they said is not canon and just a proof of concept and that everything was changed by the time they got to season 2 finale as they made that short trek before they had even made season 2 was made as they had redesigned lorca’s ready room for season 2 into a special science lab They said that only two dsc based episodes of short treks the brightest star and the runaway as they tied directly into two season 2 episodes

“We were so exhausted that we were delirious and disoriented, but also giddy and sad – all of us at the same time – and so we cried together. There was a lot of crying together. We spoke blessings over each other, we read letters and poems, and we hugged. It’s crazy because you assume that you will see some of the people again.”

This is genuinely hilarious.

Poems, hugging, crying, blessings, giddiness, sadness and more crying. The Discovery cast/crew summed up perfectly.

You don’t other Trek casts have had similar experiences on their last days?

I’m sure last days on previous shows were emotional of course, but no I don’t think they read poetry to each other. Discovery and its lame writers, cast and crew don’t do subtlety.

You must be fun at family gatherings.

The show was ending and they were going to miss each other like every show that ends; especially one where they didn’t know it was ending.

This is a little ridiculous to be complaining about this.

I’m not complaining. I’m laughing. Laughing because a common criticism of the show is that the crew spend too much time crying or hugging. And here the cast are, crying, hugging, and reading poetry together.

7 Best New Movies and Shows on Paramount+ in April 2024

S tep lively into April with a bouquet of exciting new movies and shows blooming on Paramount+! As April blossoms, prepare for a delightful array of fresh content gracing your screens. Our selected lineup guarantees you’ll find something that matches your viewing senses for the month ahead. From the latest episodes of The Gentleman in Moscow to the premiere of the final installment of Star Trek: Discovery , there’s something to suit every palate. Gone are the days of aimless scrolling. Skip the legwork and immerse yourself in pure entertainment with these additions to the streaming service.

Without further delay, here are the top 7 new movies and shows to watch on Paramount+24 this April 2024.

Star Trek: Discovery (Season 5)

Available on: April 4 | Created by: Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman

Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, Blu del Barrio, David Ajala, Callum Keith Rennie

In Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery , Captain Burnham (Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery venture on a thrilling quest across the universe . Taking place in the 32nd century, where dilithium scarcity threatens interstellar travel, the crew utilizes the ship’s unique mycelial spore drive to navigate the cosmos. However, their journey takes a dramatic turn when they uncover a long-concealed secret: the existence of an ancient power shrouded in mystery for centuries.

Determined to solve this quest, the team face dangerous adversaries also vying for control of this formidable force. Racing against time and unforeseen enemies, the Discovery crew must navigate both treacherous territories and alliances. With the universe's fate hanging in the balance, the fifth and final installment of the series concludes the ship’s journey for truth and power with an epic adventure .

A Gentleman in Moscow (New Episodes)

Available on: April 5 | Directors: Sam Miller, Sarah O’Gorman

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alexa Goodall, Johnny Harris, Fehinti Balogun

Amid post-Revolutionary Russia, Count Alexander Rostov (McGregor) finds himself stripped of his status and confined to the luxurious Hotel Metropol as punishment for his aristocratic background. One step outside of the hotel grounds means swift death for Rostov. Left with no other choice, Rostov adjusts to a life of confinement within its opulent walls. Rostov forms unexpected bonds with fellow residents and hotel staff as he navigates his restricted existence.

Through unlikely friendships and fleeting romance, Rostov learns there’s more to life than riches and gold. The aristocrat finds true wealth not in material possessions but in the richness of human connection through love, courage, and community. Set against the backdrop of Russian history, A Gentleman in Moscow explores the resilience of the human spirit .

The Challenge: All Stars (Season 4)

Available on: April 10 | Created by : Mary-Ellis Bunim, Jonathan Murray

Cast: Ace Amerson, Adam Larson, Brad Fiorenza, Brandon Nelson, Derek Chavez, Jay Mitchell, Kefla Hare, Leroy Garrett, Ryan Kehoe, Steve Meinke, Syrus Yarbrough, Tony Raines, Tyrie Ballard-Brown

In The Challenge: All Stars Season 4, the competition reaches new heights as 25 contestants reunite in Cape Town, South Africa, vying for the coveted $300,000 prize. True to the original show’s nature , this season brings back beloved veterans who haven’t graced the Challenge arena in years. With roots in iconic shows like The Real World and Road Rules , these seasoned competitors are primed for a battle royale unlike any other.

But this season comes with a twist. Contestants must earn stars to secure their spot in the final, with the added risk of star-stealing. As old alliances are rekindled and new rivalries ignite, the stakes are higher than ever. Only one All-Star will emerge victorious in this clash of old-school legends and modern power players.

Dora (2024 Reboot)

Available on: April 12 | Directed by: Don Kim

Cast: Diana Zermeño, Asher Spence, Marc Weiner, Anairis Quiñones, Maria Canals-Barrera

It’s the return of everyone’s favorite childhood hero: Dora the Explorer! The 2024 reboot of Dora gets a brand new makeover . With stunning new CG animation and richer character-driven narratives, this modern rendition of the beloved series breathes fresh life into the iconic franchise. Led by the fearless Dora (Zermeño), and her trust monkey companion Boots (Spence), audiences are taken back to the rainforest adventures of the loyal duo all while outsmarting the mischievous fox, Swiper (Weiner). Since its debut two years ago, Dora the Explorer has become a worldwide phenomenon, transcending cultural and linguistic borders to become a timeless symbol of friendship and adventure.

Tracker (Final Episode)

Available on: April 14 | Developed by: Ben H. Winters

Cast: Justin Hartley, Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany

Adapted from “The Never Game” by writer Jeffrey Deaver , Tracker follows survivalist Colter Shaw (Hartley) as he hits the road all by himself. With nothing else but his RV, Colter crosses the country’s borders to crack any case he can find. Whether it’s its private citizens or members of law enforcement, if there’s a reward in it, he’s down to solve it. But underneath his gruff facade and solid tracking abilities, Colter isn’t on the best of terms with his fractured family. As Colter tackles one unique case from another, consistency is not part of Colter’s job description. Word on the street is that Season 2 is already in the works . Don’t miss out on the final episode of this thrilling series.

CTRL+ALT+DESIRE

Available on: April 16 | Directed by: Colin Archdeacon

CTRL+ALT+DESIRE delves deep into the harrowing events that shook a quiet Florida town to its core. Led by Archdeacon, this gripping TV mini-series chronicles the extensive investigation surrounding the shocking case of Grant Amato, a 29-year-old Floridian put behind bars after brutally murdering his own family execution style. Amato’s descent into darkness began when he became infatuated by Silvie, a live-stream cam girl from Bulgaria. Driven by a burning need to win her affection, Amato resorted to stealing $200,000 from his family to gain her attention. However, as his devotion to Silvie intensified, his reality began to crumble.

Drawing from four years of recorded prison phone calls, and a trail of clues spanning Florida, Eastern Europe, and the depths of the Internet, the series unveils a disturbing pattern of addiction, deception, and the dangers of online obsession.

Available on: April 26

Created by: John Whittington, Toby Ascher

Cast: Idris Elba, Adam Pally

The eagerly awaited return of the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe is bringing back Knuckles . This latest live-action series follows Knuckles (Elba), on a comedic, jam-packed adventure as he takes on Wade Whippie (Pally) as his protege. However, what begins as a simple mentoring arrangement soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery for Knuckles himself. Set between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . The series promises a thrilling continuation of the beloved franchise.

Idris Elba Reacts to His 'Knuckles' Co-Stars' Impersonations of His 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Character (Exclusive)

'Knuckles' premieres on Paramount+ on April 26.

Idris Elba is giving out high marks to his friends and Knuckles co-stars who attempted to recreate his character's distinctive voice. 

In a new promo video released exclusively to ET ahead of the show's April premiere, the 51-year-old Luther actor sits down to watch Adam Pally , Scott Mescudi -- better known as Kid Cudi -- Rory McCann and Ellie Taylor each give his Sonic the Hedgehog character's voice a spin. 

"Turns out, some of the cast members decided to do an impression of Knuckles, let’s see what's going on," Elba says at the start of the video, pressing play on the clips of Pally's video first.

Pally, 42, plays Wade Whipple, Knuckles' protégé who he trains throughout the series. 

"You are stronger than you think, Wade Whipple," the Happy Endings alum says in the clip, doing his best to lower his voice several octaves. "On a scale of one to warrior, you are a three." 

"I think you got the cadence right," Elba says in response to Pally's impression. 

As for the other cast members, the Hijack star says that Cudi's attempt is "not bad," while he simply laughed after watching McCann do the Knuckles voice as he recited a line from the show. Ultimately, it was Taylor -- the actress behind the role of Agent Willoughby in the series -- that Elba says perfected the voice and the accent of the infamous video game character. 

"And you say this is fish? It has the consistency of a wet sponge," the Ted Lasso actress, 40, says in a comically low and exaggerated voice.

"This is my favorite," Elba responds. 

The video comes three weeks ahead of Knuckles' release on Paramount+. The show -- a spinoff of the  Sonic the Hedgehog films -- follows Elba's character as he trains Whipple and goes on a self-discovery journey. The show takes place between the events of  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 -- which releases in December and stars Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey and James Marsden.

Watch a trailer for Knuckles in the player below: 

The show premieres on Paramount+ on April 26 in the U.S. and Canada and the next day in other territories where the streaming service is available. 

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Star Trek Prequel Movie In The Works With Star Wars Director

Toby Haynes, who directed episodes of Black Mirror, Doctor Who, and Andor, is lined up to make a Star Trek movie.

By Eddie Makuch on April 11, 2024 at 12:06PM PDT

A Star Trek prequel movie is in the works with Star Wars director Toby Haynes attached to direct, Paramount announced during CinemaCon. This has been rumored since January , and now it's confirmed. The movie is set for release sometime in 2025.

Haynes previously directed episodes of Doctor Who, Black Mirror, Sherlock, and the Star Wars series Andor. Collider reported on these details from CinemaCon.

Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote The Lego Batman Movie, is writing the untitled Star Trek film. Haynes has never directed or written a Star Trek movie, but he directed Black Mirror's Star Trek-inspired USS Callister episode.

The film is said to be an "origin story" that will take place prior to the events of 2009's Star Trek, which took place in 2255 and was itself an origin story. This likely means it will feature a different cast. The stars of the latest series, including Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, and Zoe Saldana, have been rumored to be coming back for a fourth film in their series, but it hasn't happened yet.

2016's Star Trek Beyond is the latest entry in the main Star Trek movie series, but the franchise has lived long and prospered on streaming with the TV shows Picard and Strange New Worlds.

The 2009 Star Trek reboot and its 2013 sequel Into Darkness were directed by JJ Abrams, before he handed off directing duties to Justin Lin for Star Trek Beyond. The three movies collectively earned around $1.2 billion at the global box office.

In addition to Pine, Saldana, and Quinto, the latest Star Trek movie series featured John Cho as Sulu and Anton Yelchin as Chekov. Yelchin tragically died in 2016 at the age of 27 after a motor vehicle accident in his driveway.

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